Office of homeless youth

AN ACT Relating to updating the office of homeless youth program 1
provisions; amending RCW 43.185C.280, 43.185C.285, 43.185C.315, 2
43.185C.320, 43.185C.340, 43.330.702, 43.330.710, 43.330.724, 3
43.330.726, and 43.63A.305; reenacting and amending RCW 43.185C.010 4
and 74.15.020; and providing an effective date. 5
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:6
Sec. 1. RCW 43.185C.010 and 2023 c 277 s 2 and 2023 c 151 s 3 7
are each reenacted and amended to read as follows: 8
The definitions in this section apply throughout this chapter 9
unless the context clearly requires otherwise. 10
(1) "Administrator" means the individual who has the daily 11
administrative responsibility of a crisis residential center.12
(2) "Child in need of services petition" means a petition filed 13
in juvenile court by a parent, child, or the department of children, 14
youth, and families seeking adjudication of placement of the child.15
(3) "Community action agency" means a nonprofit private or public 16
organization established under the economic opportunity act of 1964.17
(4) "Crisis residential center" means a secure or semi-secure 18
facility established pursuant to chapter 74.13 RCW.19
(5) "Department" means the department of commerce.20
(6) "Director" means the director of the department of commerce.21
S-3610.1
SENATE BILL 5935
State of Washington 69th Legislature 2026 Regular Session
By Senators Orwall, Nobles, and C. Wilson
Prefiled 12/23/25. Read first time 01/12/26. Referred to Committee
on Human Services.
p. 1 SB 5935
(7) "Home security fund account" means the state treasury account 1
receiving income from revenue under RCW 36.22.250(2)(c), and all 2
other sources directed to the homeless housing and assistance 3
program. 4
(8) "Homeless housing grant program" means the vehicle by which 5
competitive grants are awarded by the department, utilizing moneys 6
from the home security fund account, to local governments for 7
programs directly related to housing homeless individuals and 8
families, addressing the root causes of homelessness, preventing 9
homelessness, collecting data on homeless individuals, and other 10
efforts directly related to housing homeless persons.11
(9) "Homeless housing plan" means the five-year plan developed by 12
the county or other local government to address housing for homeless 13
persons. 14
(10) "Homeless housing program" means the program authorized 15
under this chapter as administered by the department at the state 16
level and by the local government or its designated subcontractor at 17
the local level. 18
(11) "Homeless housing strategic plan" means the five-year plan 19
developed by the department, in consultation with the interagency 20
council on homelessness, the affordable housing advisory board, and 21
the state advisory council on homelessness. 22
(12) "Homeless person" means an individual living outside or in a 23
building not meant for human habitation or which they have no legal 24
right to occupy, in an emergency shelter, or in a temporary housing 25
program which may include a transitional and supportive housing 26
program if habitation time limits exist. This definition includes 27
substance abusers, people with mental illness, and sex offenders who 28
are homeless. 29
(13) "HOPE center" means an agency licensed by the secretary of 30
the department of children, youth, and families to provide temporary 31
residential placement and other services to ((street)) unaccompanied 32
homeless youth. ((A street )) An unaccompanied homeless youth may 33
remain in a HOPE center for 90 days while services are arranged and 34
permanent placement is coordinated. No ((street)) unaccompanied 35
homeless youth may stay longer than 90 days unless approved by the 36
department and any additional days approved by the department must be 37
based on the unavailability of a long-term placement option. ((A 38
street)) An unaccompanied homeless youth whose parent wants him or 39
her returned to home may remain in a HOPE center until his or her 40
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parent arranges return of the youth, not longer. All other ((street)) 1
unaccompanied homeless youth must have court approval under chapter 2
13.34 or 13.32A RCW to remain in a HOPE center up to 90 days.3
(14) "Housing authority" means any of the public corporations 4
created by chapter 35.82 RCW. 5
(15) "Housing continuum" means the progression of individuals 6
along a housing-focused continuum with homelessness at one end and 7
homeownership at the other. 8
(16) "Interagency council on homelessness" means a committee 9
appointed by the governor and consisting of, at least, policy level 10
representatives of the following entities: (a) The department of 11
commerce; (b) the department of corrections; (c) the department of 12
children, youth, and families; (d) the department of veterans 13
affairs; and (e) the department of health. 14
(17) "Local government" means a county government in the state of 15
Washington or a city government, if the legislative authority of the 16
city affirmatively elects to accept the responsibility for housing 17
homeless persons within its borders. 18
(18) "Local homeless housing task force" means a voluntary local 19
committee created to advise a local government on the creation of a 20
local homeless housing plan and participate in a local homeless 21
housing program. It must include a representative of the county, a 22
representative of the largest city located within the county, at 23
least one homeless or formerly homeless person, such other members as 24
may be required to maintain eligibility for federal funding related 25
to housing programs and services and if feasible, a representative of 26
a private nonprofit organization with experience in low-income 27
housing. 28
(19) "Long-term private or public housing" means subsidized and 29
unsubsidized rental or owner-occupied housing in which there is no 30
established time limit for habitation of less than two years.31
(20) "Performance measurement" means the process of comparing 32
specific measures of success against ultimate and interim goals.33
(21) "Secure facility" means a crisis residential center, or 34
portion thereof, that has locking doors, locking windows, or a 35
secured perimeter, designed and operated to prevent a child from 36
leaving without permission of the facility staff. 37
(22) "Semi-secure facility" means any facility including, but not 38
limited to, crisis residential centers or specialized foster family 39
homes, operated in a manner to reasonably assure that youth placed 40
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there will not run away. Pursuant to rules established by the 1
facility administrator, the facility administrator shall establish 2
reasonable hours for residents to come and go from the facility such 3
that no residents are free to come and go at all hours of the day and 4
night. To prevent residents from taking unreasonable actions, the 5
facility administrator, where appropriate, may condition a resident's 6
leaving the facility upon the resident being accompanied by the 7
administrator or the administrator's designee and the resident may be 8
required to notify the administrator or the administrator's designee 9
of any intent to leave, his or her intended destination, and the 10
probable time of his or her return to the center. 11
(23) "Staff secure facility" means a structured group care 12
facility licensed under rules adopted by the department of children, 13
youth, and families with a ratio of at least one adult staff member 14
to every two children. 15
(24) "Street outreach services" means a program that provides 16
services and resources either directly or through referral to 17
((street)) unaccompanied homeless youth and ((unaccompanied)) young 18
adults as defined in RCW 43.330.702. Services including crisis 19
intervention, emergency supplies, case management, and referrals may 20
be provided through community-based outreach or drop-in centers.21
(25) "Washington homeless census" means an annual statewide 22
census conducted as a collaborative effort by towns, cities, 23
counties, community-based organizations, and state agencies, with the 24
technical support and coordination of the department, to count and 25
collect data on all homeless individuals in Washington.26
(26) "Washington homeless client management information system" 27
means a database of information about homeless individuals in the 28
state used to coordinate resources to assist homeless clients to 29
obtain and retain housing and reach greater levels of self-30
sufficiency or economic independence when appropriate, depending upon 31
their individual situations. 32
Sec. 2. RCW 43.185C.280 and 2015 c 69 s 16 are each amended to 33
read as follows: 34
(1) The administrator of a designated crisis residential center 35
shall perform the duties under subsection (3) of this section:36
(a) Upon admitting a child who has been brought to the center by 37
a law enforcement officer under RCW 43.185C.265; 38
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(b) Upon admitting a child who has run away from home or has 1
requested admittance to the center; 2
(c) Upon learning from a person under RCW 13.32A.082 that the 3
person is providing shelter to a child absent from home; or4
(d) Upon learning that a child has been placed with a responsible 5
adult pursuant to RCW 43.185C.265. 6
(2) Transportation expenses of the child shall be at the parent's 7
expense to the extent of his or her ability to pay, with any unmet 8
transportation expenses assumed by the crisis residential center.9
(3) When any of the circumstances under subsection (1) of this 10
section are present, the administrator of a center shall perform the 11
following duties: 12
(a) Immediately notify the child's parent of the child's 13
whereabouts, physical and emotional condition, and the circumstances 14
surrounding his or her placement , unless a compelling reason exists 15
as defined in RCW 13.32A.082; 16
(b) Initially notify the parent that it is the paramount concern 17
of the family reconciliation service personnel to achieve a 18
reconciliation between the parent and child to reunify the family and 19
inform the parent as to the procedures to be followed under this 20
chapter; 21
(c) Inform the parent whether a referral to children's protective 22
services has been made and, if so, inform the parent of the standard 23
pursuant to RCW 26.44.020(1) governing child abuse and neglect in 24
this state; and either 25
(d)(i) Arrange transportation for the child to the residence of 26
the parent, as soon as practicable, when the child and his or her 27
parent agrees to the child's return home or when the parent produces 28
a copy of a court order entered under this chapter requiring the 29
child to reside in the parent's home; or 30
(ii) Arrange transportation for the child to: (A) An out-of-home 31
placement which may include a licensed group care facility or foster 32
family when agreed to by the child and parent; or (B) a certified or 33
licensed mental health or chemical dependency program of the parent's 34
choice. 35
(4) If the administrator of the crisis residential center 36
performs the duties listed in subsection (3) of this section, he or 37
she shall also notify the department of social and health services 38
that a child has been admitted to the crisis residential center.39
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Sec. 3. RCW 43.185C.285 and 2018 c 58 s 60 are each amended to 1
read as follows: 2
The administrator of a crisis residential center shall notify 3
parents unless a compelling reason exists as defined in RCW 4
13.32A.082, and the appropriate law enforcement agency as to any 5
unauthorized leave from the center by a child placed at the center. 6
The administrator shall also notify the department of children, 7
youth, and families immediately as to any unauthorized leave from the 8
center by a child who is in the care of or receiving services from 9
the department of children, youth, and families. 10
Sec. 4. RCW 43.185C.315 and 2019 c 124 s 3 are each amended to 11
read as follows: 12
(1) The department shall establish HOPE centers across the state 13
and may establish HOPE centers by contract, within funds appropriated 14
by the legislature specifically for this purpose. HOPE centers shall 15
be operated in a manner to reasonably assure that ((street)) 16
unaccompanied homeless youth placed there will not run away. Pursuant 17
to rules established by the facility administrator, residents may 18
come and go from the facility at reasonable hours such that no 19
residents are free to come and go at all hours of the day and night. 20
The facility administrator, where appropriate, may condition a 21
resident's leaving the facility upon the resident being accompanied 22
by the administrator or the administrator's designee and the resident 23
may be required to notify the administrator or the administrator's 24
designee of any intent to leave, his or her intended destination, and 25
the probable time of his or her return to the HOPE center. Any 26
((street)) unaccompanied homeless youth who runs away from a HOPE 27
center shall not be readmitted unless specifically authorized by the 28
((street)) unaccompanied homeless youth's placement and liaison 29
specialist, and the placement and liaison specialist shall document 30
with specific factual findings an appropriate basis for readmitting 31
any ((street)) unaccompanied homeless youth to a HOPE center. HOPE 32
centers are required to have the following: 33
(a) A license issued by the department of children, youth, and 34
families, including staff who meet licensing qualifications;35
(b) A case manager who may be a contractual or a part-time 36
employee, but must be available to work with ((street)) unaccompanied 37
homeless youth in a HOPE center at a ratio of one to every 38
((fifteen)) 15 youth staying in a HOPE center. This case manager 39
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shall be known as a placement and liaison specialist. Preference 1
shall be given to those case managers who have experience working 2
with adolescents and are cross-credentialed in mental health and 3
chemical dependency. The placement and liaison specialist shall:4
(i) Conduct an assessment of the ((street)) unaccompanied 5
homeless youth that includes a determination of the ((street)) 6
unaccompanied homeless youth's legal status regarding residential 7
placement; 8
(ii) Facilitate the ((street)) unaccompanied homeless youth's 9
return to his or her legally authorized residence at the earliest 10
possible date or initiate processes to arrange legally authorized 11
appropriate placement. Any ((street)) unaccompanied homeless youth 12
who may meet the definition of dependent child under RCW 13.34.030 13
must be referred to the department of children, youth, and families. 14
The department of children, youth, and families shall determine 15
whether a dependency petition should be filed under chapter 13.34 16
RCW. A shelter care hearing must be held within ((seventy-two)) 72 17
hours to authorize out-of-home placement for any youth the department 18
of children, youth, and families determines is appropriate for out-19
of-home placement under chapter 13.34 RCW. All of the provisions of 20
chapter 13.32A RCW must be followed for children in need of services 21
or at-risk youth; 22
(iii) Interface with other relevant resources and system 23
representatives to secure long-term residential placement and other 24
needed services for the ((street)) unaccompanied homeless youth;25
(iv) Be assigned immediately to each youth and meet with the 26
youth within eight hours of the youth receiving HOPE center services;27
(v) Facilitate a physical examination of any ((street)) 28
unaccompanied homeless youth who has not seen a physician within one 29
year prior to residence at a HOPE center and facilitate evaluation by 30
a county-designated mental health professional, a chemical dependency 31
specialist, or both if appropriate; and 32
(vi) Arrange an educational assessment to measure the ((street)) 33
unaccompanied homeless youth's competency level in reading, writing, 34
and basic mathematics, and that will measure learning disabilities or 35
special needs; 36
(c) Staff trained in development needs of ((street)) 37
unaccompanied homeless youth as determined by the department, 38
including but not limited to an on-site program manager who must work 39
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with the placement and liaison specialist to provide appropriate 1
services on-site; 2
(d) A data collection system that measures outcomes for the 3
population served, and enables research and evaluation that can be 4
used for future program development and service delivery. Data 5
collection systems must have confidentiality rules and protocols 6
developed by the department; 7
(e) Notification requirements that meet the notification 8
requirements of chapter 13.32A RCW. The youth's arrival date and time 9
must be logged at intake by HOPE center staff. The staff must 10
immediately notify law enforcement and dependency caseworkers if ((a 11
street)) an unaccompanied homeless youth runs away from a HOPE 12
center. A child may be transferred to a secure facility as defined in 13
RCW 13.32A.030 whenever the staff reasonably believes that ((a 14
street)) an unaccompanied homeless youth is likely to leave the HOPE 15
center and not return after full consideration of the factors set 16
forth in RCW 43.185C.290(2)(a) (i) and (ii). The ((street)) 17
unaccompanied homeless youth's temporary placement in the HOPE center 18
must be authorized by the court or the secretary of the department of 19
children, youth, and families if the youth is a dependent of the 20
state under chapter 13.34 RCW or the department of children, youth, 21
and families is responsible for the youth under chapter 13.32A RCW, 22
or by the youth's parent or legal custodian, until such time as the 23
parent can retrieve the youth who is returning to home;24
(f) HOPE centers must identify to the department of children, 25
youth, and families any ((street)) unaccompanied homeless youth it 26
serves who is not returning promptly to home. The department of 27
children, youth, and families then must contact the missing 28
children's clearinghouse identified in chapter 13.60 RCW and either 29
report the youth's location or report that the youth is the subject 30
of a dependency action and the parent should receive notice from the 31
department of children, youth, and families; and 32
(g) Services that provide counseling and education to the 33
((street)) unaccompanied homeless youth. 34
(2) The department shall award contracts for the operation of 35
HOPE center beds with the goal of facilitating the coordination of 36
services provided for youth by such programs and those services 37
provided by secure and semi-secure crisis residential centers.38
(3) Subject to funds appropriated for this purpose, the 39
department must incrementally increase the number of available HOPE 40
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beds by at least ((seventeen)) 17 beds in fiscal year 2017, at least 1
((seventeen)) 17 beds in fiscal year 2018, and at least ((seventeen)) 2
17 beds in fiscal year 2019, such that by July 1, 2019, ((seventy-3
five)) 75 HOPE beds are established and operated throughout the state 4
as set forth in subsection (1) of this section. 5
(4) Subject to funds appropriated for this purpose, the beds 6
available in HOPE centers shall be increased incrementally. The 7
additional capacity shall be distributed around the state based upon 8
need and, to the extent feasible, shall be geographically situated so 9
that HOPE beds are available across the state. In determining the 10
need for increased numbers of HOPE beds in a particular county or 11
counties, one of the considerations should be the volume of truancy 12
petitions filed there. 13
Sec. 5. RCW 43.185C.320 and 2017 c 277 s 8 are each amended to 14
read as follows: 15
To be eligible for placement in a HOPE center, a minor must be 16
either ((a street )) an unaccompanied homeless youth((, as that term 17
is defined in this chapter, )) or a youth who, without placement in a 18
HOPE center, will continue to participate in increasingly risky 19
behavior, including truancy. Youth may also self-refer to a HOPE 20
center. 21
Sec. 6. RCW 43.185C.340 and 2023 c 386 s 2 are each amended to 22
read as follows: 23
(1) Subject to funds appropriated for this specific purpose, the 24
department shall administer a grant program that links students 25
experiencing homelessness and their families with stable housing 26
located in the student's school district. The goals of the program 27
are to: 28
(a) Provide educational stability for students experiencing 29
homelessness by promoting housing stability; and 30
(b) Encourage the development of collaborative strategies between 31
housing and education partners. 32
(2) To ensure that innovative strategies between housing and 33
education partners are developed and implemented, the department may 34
contract and consult with a designated vendor to provide technical 35
assistance and program evaluation, assist with making grant awards, 36
and support collaboration between the department and the office of 37
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the superintendent of public instruction. If the department contracts 1
with a vendor, the vendor must be selected by the director and:2
(a) Be a nonprofit vendor; 3
(b) Be located in Washington state; and 4
(c) Have a demonstrated record of working toward the housing and 5
educational stability of students and families experiencing 6
homelessness. 7
(3) In implementing the program, the department, or the 8
department in partnership with its designated vendor, shall consult 9
with the office of the superintendent of public instruction.10
(4)(a) The department, or the designated vendor in consultation 11
with the department, shall develop a competitive grant process to 12
make grant awards to eligible organizations on implementation of the 13
proposal. For the purposes of this subsection, "eligible 14
organization" means any local government, local housing authority, 15
behavioral health administrative services organization established 16
under chapter 71.24 RCW, behavioral health organization, nonprofit 17
community or neighborhood-based organization, federally recognized 18
Indian tribe in the state of Washington, or regional or statewide 19
nonprofit housing assistance organization. Applications for the grant 20
program must include a letter of support from the applicable school 21
districts. Within 60 days of receiving a grant award under this 22
section, a memorandum of understanding must be established between 23
the housing providers and school districts defining the 24
responsibilities and commitments of each party to identify, house, 25
and support students experiencing homelessness. The memorandum must 26
include: 27
(i) How housing providers will partner with school districts to 28
address gaps and needs and develop sustainable strategies to help 29
students experiencing homelessness; and 30
(ii) How data on students experiencing homelessness and their 31
families will be collected and shared in accordance with privacy 32
protections under applicable federal and state laws.33
(b) If a memorandum of understanding cannot be established as 34
required by (a) of this subsection, the housing provider and school 35
districts may work with the department on a case-by-case basis to 36
provide, in lieu of a memorandum of understanding, a detailed 37
accountability plan for a partnership between the housing provider 38
and the school districts. 39
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(5) In determining which eligible organizations will receive 1
grants, the department must ensure that selected grantees reflect 2
geographic diversity across the state. Greater weight shall be given 3
to eligible organizations that demonstrate a commitment to:4
(a) Partnering with local schools or school districts as 5
demonstrated by a letter of support; and 6
(b) Developing and implementing evidence-informed strategies to 7
address racial inequities. Specific strategies may include, but are 8
not limited to: 9
(i) Hiring direct service staff who reflect the racial, cultural, 10
and language demographics of the population being served;11
(ii) Committing to inclusive programming by intentionally seeking 12
and utilizing input from the population being served;13
(iii) Ensuring eligibility criteria does not unintentionally 14
screen out people of color and further racial inequity; and15
(iv) Creating access points in locations frequented by parents, 16
guardians, and unaccompanied homeless youth of color.17
(6) Activities eligible for assistance under this grant program 18
include but are not limited to: 19
(a) Rental assistance, which includes utilities, security and 20
utility deposits, first and last month's rent, rental application 21
fees, moving expenses, and other eligible expenses to be determined 22
by the department; 23
(b) Transportation assistance, including gasoline assistance for 24
students and families with vehicles and bus passes;25
(c) Emergency shelter; 26
(d) Housing stability case management; and 27
(e) Other collaborative housing strategies, including prevention 28
and strength-based safety and housing approaches. 29
(7)(a) All beneficiaries of funds from the grant program must be 30
from households that include at least one student experiencing 31
homelessness as defined as a child or youth ((without a fixed, 32
regular, and adequate nighttime residence in accordance with the 33
federal McKinney-Vento homeless assistance act, 42 U.S.C. Sec. 11431 34
through 11435)) who is homeless as defined in RCW 43.330.702.35
(b) For the purposes of this section, "student experiencing 36
homelessness" includes unaccompanied homeless youth not in the 37
physical custody of a parent or guardian. "Unaccompanied homeless 38
youth" includes students up to the age of twenty-one, in alignment 39
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with the qualifications for school admissions under RCW 1
28A.225.160(1). 2
(8)(a) Grantee organizations must compile and report information 3
to the department. The department shall report to the legislature the 4
findings of the grantee, the housing stability of the homeless 5
families, and any related policy recommendations. 6
(b) Grantees must track and report on the following measures 7
including, but not limited to: 8
(i) Length of time enrolled in the grant program;9
(ii) Housing destination at program exit; 10
(iii) Type of residence prior to enrollment in the grant program; 11
and 12
(iv) Number of times homeless in the past three years.13
(c) Grantees must also include in their reports a narrative 14
description discussing its partnership with school districts as set 15
forth in the memorandum outlined in subsection (4) of this section. 16
Reports must also include the kinds of supports grantees are 17
providing students and families to support academic learning.18
(d) Data on all program participants must be entered into and 19
tracked through the Washington homeless client management information 20
system as described in RCW 43.185C.180. 21
(9) In order to ensure that housing providers are meeting the 22
requirements of the grant program for students experiencing 23
homelessness, the department, or the department in partnership with 24
its designee, shall monitor the program at least once every two 25
years. 26
(10) Any program review and monitoring under this section may be 27
conducted concurrently with other program reviews and monitoring 28
conducted by the department. In its review, the department, or the 29
department in partnership with its designee, shall monitor program 30
components that include the process used by the eligible organization 31
to identify and reach out to students experiencing homelessness, and 32
other indicators to determine how well the eligible organization is 33
meeting the housing needs of students experiencing homelessness. The 34
department, or the department in partnership with its designee, shall 35
provide technical assistance and support to housing providers to 36
better implement the program. 37
(11) The department is subject to the requirements established in 38
RCW 28A.300.542(9). 39
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Sec. 7. RCW 43.330.702 and 2015 c 69 s 3 are each amended to 1
read as follows: 2
The definitions in this section apply throughout this subchapter 3
unless the context clearly requires otherwise. 4
(1) "Child," "juvenile," "youth," and "minor" means any 5
unemancipated individual who is under the chronological age of 6
((eighteen)) 18 years. A homeless young adult under age 21 residing 7
in a transitional living program for unaccompanied homeless youth at 8
the time the young adult reaches the age of 18 may be considered a 9
child for the purposes of continued placement in licensed group care 10
facilities under chapter 74.15 RCW. A young adult who is not 11
dependent under chapter 13.34 RCW is not considered a "child" under 12
any other section or for any other purpose.13
(2) "Homeless" means without a fixed, regular, and adequate 14
nighttime residence as set forth in the federal McKinney-Vento 15
homeless assistance act, P.L. 100–77, July 22, 1987, 101 Stat. 482, 16
and runaway and homeless youth act, P.L. 93–415, Title III, September 17
7, 1974, 88 Stat. 1129. 18
(3) "Runaway" means an unmarried and unemancipated minor who is 19
absent from the home of a parent or guardian or other lawful 20
placement without the consent of the parent, guardian, or lawful 21
custodian. 22
(4) (("Street youth" means a person under the age of eighteen who 23
lives outdoors or in another unsafe location not intended for 24
occupancy by the minor and who is not residing with his or her parent 25
or at his or her legally authorized residence.26
(5))) "Unaccompanied" means a youth or young adult experiencing 27
homelessness while not in the physical custody of a parent or 28
guardian. 29
(((6))) (5) "Young adult" means a person between ((eighteen)) 18 30
and ((twenty-four)) 24 years of age. An emancipated minor may be 31
considered a young adult for the purposes of eligibility for programs 32
administered by the office of homeless youth.33
Sec. 8. RCW 43.330.710 and 2019 c 124 s 6 are each amended to 34
read as follows: 35
(1)(a) The office of homeless youth prevention and protection 36
programs shall report to the director or the director's designee.37
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(b)(i) The office of homeless youth prevention and protection 1
programs may distribute grants to providers who serve homeless youth 2
and young adults throughout the state. 3
(ii) The grants must fund services in the five key components in 4
RCW 43.330.700. 5
(iii) The grants must be expended on a statewide basis and may be 6
used to support direct services, as well as technical assistance, 7
evaluation, and capacity building. 8
(iv) Grant funds used to provide flexible financial assistance 9
may be provided directly to eligible youth and young adults or a 10
third-party vendor such as a landlord in order to promote the housing 11
stability of the program participant.12
(2) The office of homeless youth prevention and protection 13
programs shall provide management and oversight guidance and 14
direction to the following programs: 15
(a) HOPE centers as described in RCW 43.185C.315;16
(b) Crisis residential centers as described in RCW 43.185C.295;17
(c) Street outreach services as defined in RCW 43.185C.010;18
(d) Independent youth housing programs as described in RCW 19
43.63A.305. 20
Sec. 9. RCW 43.330.724 and 2022 c 137 s 4 are each amended to 21
read as follows: 22
(1) Subject to the amounts appropriated for this specific 23
purpose, the office of homeless youth prevention and protection 24
programs shall select, monitor, and provide funding and assistance 25
((for a minimum of six total )) to counties that implement housing 26
stability for youth in ((crisis)) courts programs as described in 27
this section ((for a period of three years)). 28
(2) The housing stability for youth in ((crisis)) courts pilot 29
programs must include the following components: 30
(a) Regular trainings provided to all appropriate juvenile court 31
staff regarding risk factors and identifiers for youth homelessness;32
(b) An identification and referral system used throughout the 33
juvenile court system where all appropriate court staff use routine 34
data flags to identify youth at risk for youth homelessness and refer 35
youth to the housing stability coordinator described under (c) of 36
this subsection; 37
(c) A dedicated housing stability coordinator in each 38
participating county that receives referrals, conducts housing 39
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stability assessments with youth and caregivers, connects youth and 1
caregivers with relevant community providers based on assessments, 2
and follows up on referrals; 3
(d) A model of homelessness prevention services that provides the 4
appropriate amount of intervention based on the youth or family 5
needs; and 6
(e) Coordinated housing services for youth experiencing 7
homelessness. 8
(3) By October 1, 2025, and in compliance with RCW 43.01.036, the 9
office of homeless youth prevention and protection programs shall 10
submit a report to the relevant committees of the legislature and the 11
governor that includes: 12
(a) An evaluation of the housing stability for youth in 13
((crisis)) courts programs that includes outcome data for 14
participants; 15
(b) Recommendations for improving the housing stability for youth 16
in ((crisis)) courts programs; and 17
(c) Recommendation for expanding the housing stability for youth 18
in ((crisis)) courts programs. 19
(((4) This section expires July 1, 2026.))20
Sec. 10. RCW 43.330.726 and 2023 c 151 s 5 are each amended to 21
read as follows: 22
(1) Subject to the amounts appropriated for this specific 23
purpose, the office of homeless youth prevention and protection 24
programs shall provide additional funding and assistance to 25
contracted youth service providers or other entities who convene a 26
community support team as described in this section. The purpose of 27
the community support team is to help identify supports for a youth 28
focused on resolving family conflict and obtaining or maintaining 29
long-term and stable housing. (((a))) The community support team is 30
required to prioritize reunification between the youth and the 31
youth's family to the extent possible without endangering the health, 32
safety, or welfare of the child. 33
(((b) The community support team may not engage with a family 34
member other than the youth if the parent, guardian, or legal 35
custodian objects to the support or assistance that is offered or 36
provided.))37
(2) A community support team under this section must include:38
(a) The youth; and 39
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(b) Supportive adults identified by the youth, which may include:1
(i) Licensed shelter staff; 2
(ii) A case manager; 3
(iii) Individuals from the youth's school; 4
(iv) Juvenile court staff; 5
(v) The youth's attorney; 6
(vi) Behavioral health providers; 7
(vii) Community support providers; 8
(viii) Family members; 9
(ix) Mentors; 10
(x) Peer support; 11
(xi) Housing navigation; 12
(xii) Legal assistance; or 13
(xiii) Other community members. 14
(3) The community support team described in this section shall 15
develop a process that allows youth who enter a licensed overnight 16
youth shelter, or another ((licensed)) organization with a stated 17
mission to provide services to homeless or runaway youth and their 18
families to request assistance from the community support team.19
(4) Any youth who ((enters)) seeks services from a licensed 20
overnight youth shelter, or another ((licensed)) organization with a 21
stated mission to provide services to homeless or runaway youth and 22
their families in an area served by the community support team is 23
eligible for the community support team. 24
(5) The community support team described in this section shall 25
coordinate efforts, if appropriate, with: 26
(a) The department or the designated contractor of the department 27
providing family reconciliation services to a youth or family;28
(b) Multidisciplinary teams established under RCW 43.185C.250 and 29
43.185C.255; and 30
(c) Other nearby youth homelessness assistance programs that may 31
provide assistance to the youth. 32
Sec. 11. RCW 43.63A.305 and 2009 c 148 s 1 are each amended to 33
read as follows: 34
(1) The independent youth housing program is created in the 35
department to provide housing stipends to eligible youth to be used 36
for independent housing. In developing a plan for the design, 37
implementation, and operation of the independent youth housing 38
program, the department shall: 39
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(a) Adopt policies, requirements, and procedures necessary to 1
administer the program; 2
(b) Contract with one or more eligible organizations described 3
under RCW 43.185A.040 to provide services and conduct administrative 4
activities as described in subsection (3) of this section;5
(c) Establish eligibility criteria for youth to participate in 6
the independent youth housing program, giving priority to youth who 7
have been dependents of the state for at least one year;8
(d) Refer interested youth to the designated subcontractor 9
organization administering the program in the area in which the youth 10
intends to reside; 11
(e) Develop a method for determining the amount of the housing 12
stipend, first and last month's rent, and security deposit, where 13
applicable, to be dedicated to participating youth. The method for 14
determining a housing stipend must take into account a youth's age, 15
the youth's total income from all sources, the fair market rent for 16
the area in which the youth lives or intends to live, and a variety 17
of possible living situations for the youth. The amount of housing 18
stipends must be adjusted, by a method and formula established by the 19
department, to promote the successful transition for youth to 20
complete housing self-sufficiency over time; 21
(f) Ensure that the independent youth housing program is 22
integrated and aligned with other state rental assistance and case 23
management programs operated by the department, as well as case 24
management and supportive services programs, including the 25
independent living program, the transitional living program, and 26
other related programs offered by the department of social and health 27
services; and 28
(g) Consult with the department of social and health services and 29
other stakeholders involved with dependent youth, homeless youth, and 30
homeless young adults, as appropriate. 31
(2) The department of ((social and health services )) children, 32
youth, and families shall collaborate with the department in 33
implementing and operating the independent youth housing program 34
including, but not limited to, the following: 35
(a) Refer potential eligible youth to the department before the 36
youth's ((eighteenth)) 18th birthday, if feasible, to include an 37
indication, if known, of where the youth plans to reside after aging 38
out of foster care; 39
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(b) Provide information to all youth aged ((fifteen)) 15 or 1
older, who are dependents of the state under chapter 13.34 RCW, about 2
the independent youth housing program, encouraging dependents nearing 3
their ((eighteenth)) 18th birthday to consider applying for 4
enrollment in the program; 5
(c) Encourage organizations participating in the independent 6
living program and the transitional living program to collaborate 7
with independent youth housing program providers whenever possible to 8
capitalize on resources and provide the greatest amount and variety 9
of services to eligible youth; 10
(d) Annually provide to the department data reflecting changes in 11
the percentage of youth aging out of the state dependency system each 12
year who are eligible for state assistance, as well as any other data 13
and performance measures that may assist the department to measure 14
program success; and 15
(e) Annually, beginning by December 31, 2007, provide to the 16
appropriate committees of the legislature and the interagency council 17
on homelessness as described under RCW 43.185C.170 recommendations of 18
strategies to reach the goals described in RCW 43.63A.311(2)(g).19
(3) Under the independent youth housing program, subcontractor 20
organizations shall: 21
(a) Use moneys awarded to the organizations for housing stipends, 22
security deposits, first and last month's rent stipends, case 23
management program costs, costs associated with providing 24
transitional housing, and administrative costs. When subcontractor 25
organizations determine that it is necessary to assist participating 26
youth in accessing and maintaining independent housing, subcontractor 27
organizations may also use moneys awarded to pay for professional 28
mental health services and tuition costs for court-ordered classes 29
and programs; 30
(((i) Administrative costs for each subcontractor organization 31
may not exceed twelve percent of the estimated total annual grant 32
amount to the subcontractor organization;33
(ii) All housing stipends, security deposits, and first and last 34
month's rent stipends must be payable only to a landlord or housing 35
manager of any type of independent housing;))36
(b) Enroll eligible youth who are referred by the department and 37
who choose to reside in their assigned service area;38
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(c) Enter eligible youth program participants into the 1
(([Washington])) Washington homeless client management information 2
system as described in RCW 43.185C.180; 3
(d) Monitor participating youth's housing status;4
(e) Evaluate participating youth's eligibility and compliance 5
with department policies and procedures at least twice a year;6
(f) Assist participating youth to develop or update an 7
independent living plan focused on obtaining and retaining 8
independent housing or collaborate with a case manager with whom the 9
youth is already involved to ensure that the youth has an independent 10
living plan; 11
(g) Educate participating youth on tenant rights and 12
responsibilities; 13
(h) Provide support to participating youth in the form of general 14
case management and information and referral services, when 15
necessary, or collaborate with a case manager with whom the youth is 16
already involved to ensure that the youth is receiving the case 17
management and information and referral services needed;18
(i) Connect participating youth, when possible, with individual 19
development account programs, other financial literacy programs, and 20
other programs that are designed to help young people acquire 21
economic independence and self-sufficiency, or collaborate with a 22
case manager with whom the youth is already involved to ensure that 23
the youth is receiving information and referrals to these programs, 24
when appropriate; 25
(j) Submit expenditure and performance reports, including 26
information related to the performance measures in RCW 43.63A.311, to 27
the department on a time schedule determined by the department; and28
(k) Provide recommendations to the department regarding program 29
improvements and strategies that might assist the state to reach its 30
goals as described in RCW 43.63A.311(2)(g). 31
Sec. 12. RCW 74.15.020 and 2023 c 441 s 4 and 2023 c 408 s 3 are 32
each reenacted and amended to read as follows: 33
The definitions in this section apply throughout this chapter and 34
RCW 74.13.031 unless the context clearly requires otherwise.35
(1) "Agency" means any person, firm, partnership, association, 36
corporation, facility, or residential private school , which receives 37
children, expectant mothers, or persons with developmental 38
disabilities for control, care, or maintenance outside their own 39
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homes, or which places, arranges the placement of, or assists in the 1
placement of children, expectant mothers, or persons with 2
developmental disabilities for foster care or placement of children 3
for adoption, and shall include the following irrespective of whether 4
there is compensation to the agency or to the children, expectant 5
mothers, or persons with developmental disabilities for services 6
rendered: 7
(a) "Child-placing agency" means an agency , which places a child 8
or children for temporary care, continued care, or for adoption;9
(b) "Community facility" means a group care facility operated for 10
the care of juveniles committed to the department under RCW 11
13.40.185. A county detention facility that houses juveniles 12
committed to the department under RCW 13.40.185 pursuant to a 13
contract with the department is not a community facility;14
(c) "Crisis residential center" means an agency , which is a 15
temporary protective residential facility operated to perform the 16
duties specified in chapter 13.32A RCW, in the manner provided in RCW 17
43.185C.295 through 43.185C.310; 18
(d) "Emergency respite center" is an agency that may be commonly 19
known as a crisis nursery, that provides emergency and crisis care 20
for up to ((seventy-two)) 72 hours to children who have been admitted 21
by their parents or guardians to prevent abuse or neglect. Emergency 22
respite centers may operate for up to ((twenty-four)) 24 hours a day, 23
and for up to seven days a week. Emergency respite centers may 24
provide care for children ages birth through ((seventeen)) 17, and 25
for persons ((eighteen)) 18 through ((twenty)) 20 with developmental 26
disabilities who are admitted with a sibling or siblings through age 27
((seventeen)) 17. Emergency respite centers may not substitute for 28
crisis residential centers or HOPE centers, or any other services 29
defined under this section, and may not substitute for services , 30
which are required under chapter 13.32A or 13.34 RCW;31
(e) "Foster family home" means an agency , which regularly 32
provides care on a ((twenty-four)) 24 hour basis to one or more 33
children, expectant mothers, or persons with developmental 34
disabilities in the family abode of the person or persons under whose 35
direct care and supervision the child, expectant mother, or person 36
with a developmental disability is placed; 37
(f) "Group-care facility" means an agency, other than a foster 38
family home, which is maintained and operated for the care of a group 39
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of children on a ((twenty-four)) 24 hour basis. "Group care facility" 1
includes but is not limited to: 2
(i) Qualified residential treatment programs as defined in RCW 3
13.34.030; 4
(ii) Facilities specializing in providing prenatal, postpartum, 5
or parenting supports for youth; and 6
(iii) Facilities providing high quality residential care and 7
supportive services to children who are, or who are at risk of 8
becoming, victims of sex trafficking; 9
(g) "HOPE center" ((means an agency licensed by the secretary to 10
provide temporary residential placement and other services to street 11
youth. A street youth may remain in a HOPE center for thirty days 12
while services are arranged and permanent placement is coordinated. 13
No street youth may stay longer than thirty days unless approved by 14
the department and any additional days approved by the department 15
must be based on the unavailability of a long-term placement option. 16
A street youth whose parent wants him or her returned to home may 17
remain in a HOPE center until his or her parent arranges return of 18
the youth, not longer. All other street youth must have court 19
approval under chapter 13.34 or 13.32A RCW to remain in a HOPE center 20
up to thirty days)) has the same meaning as in RCW 43.185C.010;21
(h) "Maternity service" means an agency , which provides or 22
arranges for care or services to expectant mothers, before or during 23
confinement, or which provides care as needed to mothers and their 24
infants after confinement; 25
(i) "Residential private school" means a nonpublic school or 26
nonpublic school district subject to approval by the state board of 27
education pursuant to RCW 28A.305.130 and chapter 28A.195 RCW that 28
provides sleeping and living facilities or residential accommodations 29
for enrolled students; 30
(j) "Resource and assessment center" means an agency that 31
provides short-term emergency and crisis care for a period up to 32
((seventy-two)) 72 hours, excluding Saturdays, Sundays, and holidays 33
to children who have been removed from their parent's or guardian's 34
care by child protective services or law enforcement;35
(k) "Responsible living skills program" means an agency licensed 36
by the secretary that provides residential and transitional living 37
services to persons ages ((sixteen)) 16 to ((eighteen)) 18 who are 38
dependent under chapter 13.34 RCW and who have been unable to live in 39
his or her legally authorized residence and, as a result, the minor 40
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lived outdoors or in another unsafe location not intended for 1
occupancy by the minor. Dependent minors ages ((fourteen)) 14 and 2
((fifteen)) 15 may be eligible if no other placement alternative is 3
available and the department approves the placement;4
(l) "Service provider" means the entity that operates a community 5
facility. 6
(2) "Agency" shall not include the following: 7
(a) Persons related to the child, expectant mother, or person 8
with developmental disability in the following ways:9
(i) Any blood relative, including those of half-blood, and 10
including first cousins, second cousins, nephews or nieces, and 11
persons of preceding generations as denoted by prefixes of grand, 12
great, or great-great; 13
(ii) Stepfather, stepmother, stepbrother, and stepsister;14
(iii) A person who legally adopts a child or the child's parent 15
as well as the natural and other legally adopted children of such 16
persons, and other relatives of the adoptive parents in accordance 17
with state law; 18
(iv) Spouses of any persons named in (a)(i), (ii), or (iii) of 19
this subsection (2), even after the marriage is terminated;20
(v) Relatives, as named in (a)(i), (ii), (iii), or (iv) of this 21
subsection (2), of any half sibling of the child; or22
(vi) Extended family members, as defined by the law or custom of 23
the Indian child's tribe or, in the absence of such law or custom, a 24
person who has reached the age of ((eighteen)) 18 and who is the 25
Indian child's grandparent, aunt or uncle, brother or sister, 26
brother-in-law or sister-in-law, niece or nephew, first or second 27
cousin, or stepparent who provides care in the family abode on a 28
((twenty-four-hour)) 24 hour basis to an Indian child as defined in 29
25 U.S.C. Sec. 1903(4); 30
(b) Persons who are legal guardians of the child, expectant 31
mother, or persons with developmental disabilities;32
(c) Persons who care for a neighbor's or friend's child or 33
children, with or without compensation, where the parent and person 34
providing care on a ((twenty-four-hour)) 24 hour basis have agreed to 35
the placement in writing and the state is not providing any payment 36
for the care; 37
(d) A person, partnership, corporation, or other entity that 38
provides placement or similar services to exchange students or 39
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international student exchange visitors or persons who have the care 1
of an exchange student in their home; 2
(e) A person, partnership, corporation, or other entity that 3
provides placement or similar services to international children who 4
have entered the country by obtaining visas that meet the criteria 5
for medical care as established by the United States citizenship and 6
immigration services, or persons who have the care of such an 7
international child in their home; 8
(f) Nonresidential schools, which are engaged primarily in 9
education, operate on a definite school year schedule, follow a 10
stated academic curriculum, accept only school-age children and do 11
not accept custody of children; 12
(g) Hospitals licensed pursuant to chapter 70.41 RCW when 13
performing functions defined in chapter 70.41 RCW, nursing homes 14
licensed under chapter 18.51 RCW and assisted living facilities 15
licensed under chapter 18.20 RCW; 16
(h) Licensed physicians or lawyers; 17
(i) Facilities approved and certified under chapter 71A.22 RCW;18
(j) Any agency having been in operation in this state ((ten)) 10 19
years prior to June 8, 1967, and not seeking or accepting moneys or 20
assistance from any state or federal agency, and is supported in part 21
by an endowment or trust fund; 22
(k) Persons who have a child in their home for purposes of 23
adoption, if the child was placed in such home by a licensed child-24
placing agency, an authorized public or tribal agency or court or if 25
a replacement report has been filed under chapter 26.33 RCW and the 26
placement has been approved by the court; 27
(l) An agency operated by any unit of local, state, or federal 28
government or an agency licensed by an Indian tribe pursuant to RCW 29
74.15.190; 30
(m) A maximum or medium security program for juvenile offenders 31
operated by or under contract with the department;32
(n) An agency located on a federal military reservation, except 33
where the military authorities request that such agency be subject to 34
the licensing requirements of this chapter; 35
(o)(i) A host home program, and host home, operated by a tax 36
exempt organization for youth not in the care of or receiving 37
services from the department except as provided in (o)(iii) of this 38
subsection (((2)(o)(iii) of this section [ (o)(iii) of this 39
subsection])), if that program: (A) Recruits and screens potential 40
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homes in the program, including performing background checks on 1
individuals over the age of ((eighteen)) 18 residing in the home 2
through the Washington state patrol or equivalent law enforcement 3
agency and performing physical inspections of the home; (B) screens 4
and provides case management services to youth in the program; (C) 5
obtains a notarized permission slip or limited power of attorney from 6
the parent or legal guardian of the youth authorizing the youth to 7
participate in the program and the authorization is updated every six 8
months when a youth remains in a host home longer than six months, 9
unless there is a compelling reason to not contact the parent or 10
guardian; (D) obtains insurance for the program through an insurance 11
provider authorized under Title 48 RCW; (E) provides mandatory 12
reporter and confidentiality training; and (F) registers with the 13
secretary of state under RCW 74.15.315. 14
(ii) If a host home program serves a child without parental 15
authorization who is seeking or receiving protected health care 16
services, the host home program must: 17
(A) Report to the department within 72 hours of the youth's 18
participation in the program and following this report the department 19
shall make a good faith attempt to notify the parent of this report 20
and offer services designed to resolve the conflict and accomplish a 21
reunification of the family; 22
(B) Report to the department the youth's participation in the 23
host home program at least once every month when the youth remains in 24
the host home longer than one month; and 25
(C) Provide case management outside of the host home and away 26
from any individuals residing in the home at least once per month.27
(iii) A host home program and host home that meets the other 28
requirements of this subsection (2)(o) ((of this section [this 29
subsection (2)(o)])) may provide care for a youth who is receiving 30
services from the department if the youth is: 31
(A) Not subject to a dependency proceeding under chapter 13.34 32
RCW; and 33
(B) Seeking or receiving protected health care services.34
(iv) For purposes of this section, the following definitions 35
apply: 36
(A) "Host home" means a private home that volunteers to host 37
youth in need of temporary placement that is associated with a host 38
home program. 39
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(B) "Host home program" is a program that provides support to 1
individual host homes and meets the requirements of (o)(i) of this 2
subsection. 3
(C) "Compelling reason" means the youth is in the host home or 4
seeking placement in a host home while seeking or receiving protected 5
health care services. 6
(D) "Protected health care services" means gender-affirming 7
treatment as defined in RCW 74.09.675 and reproductive health care 8
services as defined in RCW 74.09.875. 9
(v) Any host home program that receives local, state, or 10
government funding shall report the following information to the 11
office of homeless youth prevention and protection programs annually 12
by December 1st of each year: The number of children the program 13
served, why the child was placed with a host home, and where the 14
child went after leaving the host home ((,)) including, but not 15
limited to, returning to the parents, running away, reaching the age 16
of majority, or becoming a dependent of the state;17
(p) Receiving centers as defined in RCW 7.68.380.18
(3) "Department" means the department of children, youth, and 19
families. 20
(4) "Juvenile" means a person under the age of ((twenty-one)) 21 21
who has been sentenced to a term of confinement under the supervision 22
of the department under RCW 13.40.185. 23
(5) "Performance-based contracts" or "contracting" means the 24
structuring of all aspects of the procurement of services around the 25
purpose of the work to be performed and the desired results with the 26
contract requirements set forth in clear, specific, and objective 27
terms with measurable outcomes. Contracts may also include provisions 28
that link the performance of the contractor to the level and timing 29
of the reimbursement. 30
(6) "Probationary license" means a license issued as a 31
disciplinary measure to an agency that has previously been issued a 32
full license but is out of compliance with licensing standards.33
(7) "Requirement" means any rule, regulation, or standard of care 34
to be maintained by an agency. 35
(8) "Secretary" means the secretary of the department.36
(9) (("Street youth" means a person under the age of eighteen who 37
lives outdoors or in another unsafe location not intended for 38
occupancy by the minor and who is not residing with his or her parent 39
or at his or her legally authorized residence.40
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(10))) "Transitional living services" means at a minimum, to the 1
extent funds are available, the following: 2
(a) Educational services, including basic literacy and 3
computational skills training, either in local alternative or public 4
high schools or in a high school equivalency program that leads to 5
obtaining a high school equivalency degree; 6
(b) Assistance and counseling related to obtaining vocational 7
training or higher education, job readiness, job search assistance, 8
and placement programs; 9
(c) Counseling and instruction in life skills such as money 10
management, home management, consumer skills, parenting, health care, 11
access to community resources, and transportation and housing 12
options; 13
(d) Individual and group counseling; and 14
(e) Establishing networks with federal agencies and state and 15
local organizations such as the United States department of labor, 16
employment and training administration programs including the 17
workforce innovation and opportunity act , which administers private 18
industry councils and the job corps; vocational rehabilitation; and 19
volunteer programs. 20
NEW SECTION. Sec. 13. Section 12 of this act takes effect July 21
1, 2026.22
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